With the culmination of Bayanihan 1 or the We Heal as One Act and its transition to the next phase, the Department of Health today disclosed that a total of almost PHP 4.5 billion has been allocated for Bayanihan 2 or the We Recover As One Act.
The said fund is equivalent to 35,980 pieces of medical equipment procured by different entities. These include 290 units of hemodialysis machines, 180 units of mobile x-ray machines,1000 mechanical ventilators, 200 high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy equipment, and 34,510 units of various other medical equipment.
“As we continue in rising above the pandemic, it is important to ensure that our hospitals, both private and public, are fully equipped in responding to the COVID crisis,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.
Further proposals for Bayanihan 2 include a total of PHP 3.5 billion-worth of infrastructure and PHP 1.04 billion of equipment. This includes expansion of government hospital capacity to 30%, which entails additional beds for COVID-19, isolation wards and intensive care units, and molecular laboratories among others.
The construction of temporary treatment management facilities in 84 provinces and 16 urban cities is also proposed for Bayanihan 2. According to DOH, these will ensure that the health system can adequately assist COVID-19 patients while isolating them from the community to prevent further transmission of the virus.
“The additional medical equipment and living quarters provided to our frontline health workers are all indications that the government is exerting all efforts to provide everything for patients and health workers, as well,” Secretary Duque said.
Meanwhile, also in the pipeline are field hospitals that will cover seven COVID-19 referral hospitals. There will also be dormitories for frontliners near 12 COVID-19 referral hospitals to ensure medical frontliners have shorter travel time when going to and coming home from duty.
“As we slowly recover from the health crisis and further adapt in the new normal way of life, we continue to encourage our fellow Filipinos that we all need to stay vigilant and consistent in practicing the minimum health standards. Bayanihan 2 is at the heart of that collaboration. Through it, we at the Department of Health are prompt in helping our medical professionals help the nation heal and recover from COVID-19,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire stressed.
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